But I did say 'before the time of LOTR' as well, and we don't know that that time period will categorically be excluded from these films.

The point I was making, though, is that there is nothing intrinsically wrong, imo, with using characters from LOTR in these prequels - Tolkien gives us immense detail on their whereabouts. Whether we see the same actor, or the character as a child with a different actor, it still serves the prupose of introducing the character into the five movies.

The only thing I would object to, as I said earlier, is if the character is shown with a major difference in story. Mawr yw ein braint i berthyn i'r gwm Llynfi